DFLA General

When the United States Senate on April 22 voted 99-0 to pass the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, the senators boldly broke through the stopped-traffic gridlock of senatorial intransigence, showing the country what our two-party system can accomplish when everyone aims for the common good above partisan interests. A long time had passed since Democrats and Republicans voted unanimously on a bill that includes language about abortion. Maybe this is a first, in fact. If not a first, the first was so long ago that we don’t remember it.

Every citizen ought to remember this one. Win-win-win-win. Victims of human trafficking win, first and foremost, because the bill would provide help, both immediate and long-term, that victims desperately need. Right-to-lifers win because the language of the Hyde Amendment, which has prevented federal funding of abortion for many years, is preserved in the bill. Democrats win because Republicans agreed to vote to confirm President Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch. And, last but not least, babies not yet born who might have been aborted win their rightful opportunity to keep living their natural lives.

On April 29th, I turned 46 years old. Since my 40th Birthday I have observed my birthday with my own personal triathlon to celebrate the years of my life. On my birthday, I ran for 46 minutes, rode my bike 46 miles and swam 46 laps.I had a lot of time to reflect during those 4 ½ hours.

I contemplated the wonderful years with my husband and children and their support for my work with the pro-life movement. I also thought of the thousands of children who have been saved from abortion through the good work of pro-life people who provide support and love to women facing unplanned pregnancies. Heartbeat International saves 3000 babies a week by referring women to places that support them during their pregnancy and beyond. CareNet saved 388,691 babies from abortion in the past 6 years and provided support and education to over 700,000 parents.

Beginning in the 1960’s, the Southern Strategy brought about a war between the Republican and Democratic parties in Alabama. That war dragged on for decades. Then, in the early part of the 21st century, the GOP took down Democratic Governor Don Siegelman and clinched a Republican-controlled state house and senate for the first time in over a century.

The effects of that victory are still very prevalent today. The Democratic Party in Alabama isn’t waning. It’s dead. Outside of a few districts in the Black Belt, Alabama is as red as the day is long. The war is over, and the Democrats lost.

Being a Democrat in Alabama is rough. I should know. As both a proud Alabamian and dedicated Democrat, I’ve dealt firsthand with the frustration of living in such a divided house. Thanks to the burning rhetoric and idealism of the right, Democrats in the Heart of Dixie might as well be card-carrying communists. The GOP has so successfully predicated us as socialist, big government, America-haters that we can’t even have a constructive conversation without the dark cloud of presumption hanging over our heads.

“We support the listed pro-life candidates,” said Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats for Life, “with a reminder to the Democratic Party that it is stronger with diversity in its ranks. These members strengthen our big tent and the ability to pass critical legislation to assist the hard-working families in Massachusetts.”

Democrats For Life of America was founded in 1999 to mobilize Democrats at the local, state, and national levels. DFLA’s primary mission has been to elect pro-life Democrats, support pro-life elected officials, promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform and achieve legislation that fosters respect for human life. Democrats for Life of America is one of over 200 member organizations of Consistent Life, an international network for peace, justice, and life.

“As a pro-life Democratic resident of Massachusetts, it is exciting to see these candidates receive this important endorsement” said Jack Cahalan, spokesman for the DFL chapter in Massachusetts. “I am proud of them for their advocacy for the whole life position. We know we can count on them to stand up for the unborn and all those who need assistance in our great state.”

The Massachusetts chapter of Democrats for Life has been recently reorganized. It is committed to building a strong pro-life advocacy group within the state and supporting pro-life Democratic elected officials.

Thank you for your commitment to protect and support life at all stages. Our Party is stronger with diverse voices and Members, like you, who are willing to stand up for their convictions.As you know, the Senate recently failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to begin debate on S. 2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act. We wanted to share our concerns with you should this issue come before the Senate again.

First and most important, this bill is unnecessary. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) already adopted a measure for religious non-profits that object to contraception coverage, whereby the insurer provides coverage directly to the employee, without co-pays, with no employer involvement. That regulation can easily accommodate for-profit close corporations, like Hobby Lobby, whose owners have a conflict of religious conscience in paying for drugs or devices that could cause abortion. As Justice Kennedy put it in his crucial opinion in the case, “[this] accommodation equally furthers the Government’s interest [in ensuring employees free contraception coverage] but does not impinge on the plaintiffs’ religious beliefs.” Pro-life Democrats should vigorously support this accommodation, which is both reasonable and sensible for women and for conscience rights. Under it, women receive full and free coverage and employers’ consciences are protected—a win-win solution that pro-life Democrats should support.

Second, the principles behind S. 2578 have extremely troubling implications—including laying the groundwork for requiring employers to cover and fund procedures that everyone agrees are abortions. The bill’s rationale is that requiring a for-profit business to cover a health procedure in insurance is too distant a connection to be a burden on its owners’ conscience, and that refusing coverage improperly "imposes" on employees. That same logic would allow a requirement that employers cover and fund second-trimester abortions. The issue is not hypothetical. Using the above logic, the Washington State House passed a bill, the Reproductive Parity Act, to require all insurers who cover maternity care to also cover abortion. The bill did not pass the Washington State Senate, but laying this groundwork is an important goal for those who support abortion and public funding of abortion.

Conscience rights have long been protected through legislative actions and judicial rulings. The Supreme Court’s narrow ruling would affect only a small number of corporations, who, like Hobby Lobby are “closely held “corporations – owned by five or fewer people – and hold “sincere religious beliefs.” Especially given the established accommodation bypassing the employer, S. 2578 is unnecessary to solve the problem, and it would create precedent that should greatly concern pro-life Democrats.

Like you, we support affordable and accessible health care for all. S. 2578 does not address affordability or accessibility for the over 40 million Americans who do not have and cannot afford health insurance.

We hope you will consider our concerns and oppose this legislation—and support using the existing accommodation—should the Senate decide to bring this issue up again.

Sincerely,

Kristen Day

Executive Director

Democrats For Life of America

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DFLA Mission Statement

Democrats For Life of America advocates and supports programs and policies that respect and promote life from conception to natural death. This includes, but is not limited to, opposition to abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia. Learn more...